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Overview

From the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Small Great Things and My Sister's Keeper, a novel exploring the story of a young woman overcome by the demands of having a family.

Paige has only a few vivid memories of her mother, who abandoned her at five years old. Now, having left her father behind in Chicago for dreams of art school and marriage to an ambitious young doctor, she finds herself with a child of her own. But her mother's absence and shameful memories of her past force her to doubt whether she could ever be capable of bringing joy and meaning into the life of her child, gifts her own mother never gave.

Harvesting the Heart is written with astonishing clarity and evocative detail, convincing in its depiction of emotional pain, love, and vulnerability, and recalls the writing of Alice Hoffman and Kristin Hannah. Out of Paige's struggle to find wholeness, Jodi Picoult crafts an absorbing novel peopled by richly drawn characters, and explores motherhood with a power and depth only she is capable of.

Product Details

About the Author

Jodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestsellingauthor of twenty-five novels, including Small Great Things,Leaving Time, The Storyteller, Lone Wolf, Sing You Home, House Rules, Handle with Care, Change of Heart, Nineteen Minutes, and My Sister’s Keeper. She is also the author, with daughter Samantha van Leer, of two young adult novels, Between the Lines and Off the Page. Picoult lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three children.

What People are Saying About This

Mary Morris

"In this breathless, startling novel, Jodi Picoult reveals the fragile threads that hold people together, or let them break apart. Her narrative, especially her sense of family, is reminiscent of a young Anne Tyler. Hers is a remarkable new voice, and it tells us a story that goes straight to the heart."

From the Publisher

"Picoult writes with a fine touch, a sharp eye for detail, and a firm grasp of the delicacy and complexity of human relationships." -The Boston Globe

"Picoult has become a master-almost a clairvoyant-at targeting hot issues and writing highly readable page-turners about them . . . It is impossible not to be held spellbound by the way she forces us to think, hard, about right and wrong." -The Washington Post

Editorial Reviews

Picoult writes with a fine touch, a sharp eye for detail, and a firm grasp of the delicacy and complexity of human relationships.

The Boston Globe

Picoult has become a master—almost a clairvoyant—at targeting hot issues and writing highly readable page-turners about them . . . It is impossible not to be held spellbound by the way she forces us to think, hard, about right and wrong.

The Washington Post

Picoult ( Songs of the Humpback Whales ) brings her considerable talents to this contemporary story of a young woman in search of her identity. Abandoned by her mother when she was five years old, Paige O'Toole has been left with painful doubts about her self-worth. She leaves her Chicago home for Cambridge, Mass., at 18 to fulfill herself as an artist, but must work in a diner because she can't afford art school. When she marries Harvard medical student Nicholas Prescott, his parents disown him, disapproving of their Irish Catholic daughter-in-law. Again Paige is forced to sideline her creative needs and work as a waitress in order to support Nicholas until he is able to establish his career as a cardiac surgeon. Paige is soon overwhelmed by the demands of Nicholas's socially sophisticated world, and after the birth of their son, Max, she becomes emotionally and physically exhausted. Unable to communicate her terrors about herself to Nicholas, she leaves him to search for her mother, who may hold the answers to her life. Told in flashbacks, this is a realistic story of childhood and adolescence, the demands of motherhood, the hard paths of personal growth and the generosity of spirit required by love. Picoult's imagery is startling and brilliant; her characters move credibly through this affecting drama. ( Nov. )

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Jodi Picoult explores the fragile ground of ambivalent motherhood in her lush second novel.

The New York Times Book Review

In her second novel, the author of Songs of the Humpback Whale ( LJ 5/15/92) recounts with power and grace a young woman's efforts to achieve ``grandeur . . . andthe ability to be comfortable in the world.'' Paige O'Toole Prescott, a gifted portraitist, sets aside her art to support her husband, Nicholas, during his medical training. His wealthy parents reject Paige, who already suffers from self-doubt after being abandoned by her mother. Despite Nicholas's success as a surgeon and the young couple's love for each other, the birth of their son catapults them into emotional crisis. Paige's resulting quest for courage and self-confidence forces Nicholas, her parents, and her in-laws to reevaluate their attitudes, standards, and behavior. Picoult considers various forces that can unite or fracture families and examines the complexities of the human heart both literally and figuratively. Highly recommended.-- Jane S. Bakerman, Indiana State Univ., Terre Haute

Library Journal

An Irish Catholic whose mother left home when she was only five, Paige has a special talent. She often finds, buried in her drawings, images that others recognize as details of their pasts or their innermost longings. Overwhelmed by guilt after an abortion, Paige finishes high school and runs away from home instead of checking into the Rhode Island School of Design. She practices her art at her job (at a diner aptly called Mercy), sketching the customers in a promotion called the Chicken Doodle Soup Special. It's through her insightful portraits that she meets her husband-to-be, Nicholas Prescott, an egocentric medical student and future heart surgeon. His wealthy parents disown their son and estrange themselves from the young couple, and Paige works to help Nicholas through medical school. When their first child is born, Paige completely loses her self-confidence and embarks on a search to reestablish her identity and to find her own mother. Stranding the self-centered Nicholas with a new baby turns out "not" to be the worst possible decision, and the repercussions from this impulsive move help mend family rifts.

Anne Gendler

"Picoult writes with a fine touch, a sharp eye for detail, and a firm grasp of the delicacy and complexity of human relationships." -The Boston Globe

"Picoult has become a master-almost a clairvoyant-at targeting hot issues and writing highly readable page-turners about them . . . It is impossible not to be held spellbound by the way she forces us to think, hard, about right and wrong." -The Washington Post

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Before I begin, I have to say that I'm very biased when it comes to Ms. Picoult. I first saw her at a book signing for Nineteen Minutes and instantly liked her. Since that book signing, I've read nine of her books, with the intention of reading her entire collection. Having said that, I have to say the first part of Harvesting the Heart was extremely difficult for me to get into. I never thought of putting it down or reading another book. At times I had to force myself to read and looking back, I'm glad that I did.

I don't want to say too much about the storyline and when things began to pick up for me, (may be a spoiler for some) but after a certain event happened, I couldn't stop reading. After I finished reading the book, I thought about my feelings regarding the first chapters. When Paige and Nicholas first meet, they are from different worlds. He has had everything handed to him and she has given up a dream that she feels she doesn't deserve. Despite their differences, they fall in love and decide to marry. During the early years of their marriage, I consider Nicholas to be extremely selfish and Paige to be very passive. Even for them, it was hard for both of them to be with the other. So, I'm wondering, as the reader, was it hard for me to be with them as well.

As I mentioned earlier, Paige comes to a crossroad in the marriage where she has to choose to move ahead or finally deal with the past she left behind. She makes a decision, that will set in motion events that will determine the fate of her marriage. Harvesting the Heart, for me, was typical Jodi Picoult. I finished the book with many questions and could not stop thinking about the characters. Actually, what was missing was a trial scene. Having read most of her recent books first, it was nice to go back and read one of her earlier works. Ms. Picoult has grown as a writer, however even then she knew how to tell a story.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

This is the only Jodi Picoult book that I did not finish. I usually love her books.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I have read many Jodi Picoult books but this one was so hard for me to get into. Probably took me about 2 weeks or more to read it when usually I can finish one of her books in a night. Not until the last few chapters was I not able to put it down. Overall not terrible just not my speed.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

'...Watching as blood vessels were clamped off and sewn, or were cauterized, filling the operating suite with the smell of burning human tissue. He waited until the vein was settled in solution for its later use. Then, stepping up to the patient, Nicholas took a deep breath. ' This quote is from the novel, Harvesting the Heart, by Jodi Picoult. This rollercoaster plot dives into the life of a young woman, Paige, and man, Nicholas. Nicholas is struggling the hard road of being the top cardiologist at the local hospital in Boston, and Paige is left wondering after her abortion, where her mother disappeared to. These two meet in the middle of all this and emotionally fall in love. I thought the point of view of this story helped define the image I got with Nicholas's and Paige's thoughts flowing continuously every couple of chapters. Though Paige's thoughts were dramatic and exaggerated, I enjoyed much more of Nicholas's side of the story. His side was thrilling and intense, and the reader will never know what he would do next. Jodi Picoult's novels are always detailed and good reads, but compared to other her other novel's, Harvesting the Heart, is around average. Harvesting the Heart is still a good book about commitment and a young marriage. I suggest anyone in their free time looking for a realistic fiction plot, pick up this novel and enjoy.

Anonymous

3 days ago

This book kept me captivated from the 1st page until the end.

Anonymous

6 months ago

The plot when on and on and on. Too predictable and uninteresting

Anonymous

7 months ago

This was not a normal story for her. I thought it was slow to develop and was disappointing ...

Anonymous

8 months ago

Even though most of the books I have read by this author do not have happy endings, I have enjoyed the stories and the writing. This was not one of her better books in my opinion. I found it hard to like any of the characters and the depictions of Paige's drawings were not realistic to me.

bbellthom on LibraryThing

10 months ago

I listened to this book on my MP3 player. In the beginning I thought this book was very slow moving. As I was farther into the book I really began to connect and like the characters. The two main characters of this book are Paige and Nicholas. Paige whose mother left her at the age of 5 questions her ability to be a good mother and care for her newborn son. I think all new mothers question there ability to raise a child, especially during the newborn months when lack of sleep makes you question all decisions that you make.

sharlene_w on LibraryThing

10 months ago

Wasn't up to the caliber of some of Jodi Picoult's other books. A heartwarming story nevertheless. I wish the ending had not been as abrupt.

scoutlee on LibraryThing

10 months ago

Before I begin, I have to say that I'm very biased when it comes to Ms. Picoult. I first saw her at a book signing for Nineteen Minutes and instantly liked her. Since that book signing, I've read nine of her books, with the intention of reading her entire collection. Having said that, I have to say the first part of Harvesting the Heart was extremely difficult for me to get into. I never thought of putting it down or reading another book. At times I had to force myself to read and looking back, I'm glad that I did.I don't want to say too much about the storyline and when things began to pick up for me, (may be a spoiler for some) but after a certain event happened, I couldn't stop reading. After I finished reading the book, I thought about my feelings regarding the first chapters. When Paige and Nicholas first meet, they are from different worlds. He has had everything handed to him and she has given up a dream that she feels she doesn't deserve. Despite their differences, they fall in love and decide to marry. During the early years of their marriage, I consider Nicholas to be extremely selfish and Paige to be very passive. Even for them, it was hard for both of them to be with the other. So, I'm wondering, as the reader, was it hard for me to be with them as well.As I mentioned earlier, Paige comes to a crossroad in the marriage where she has to choose to move ahead or finally deal with the past she left behind. She makes a decision, that will set in motion events that will determine the fate of her marriage. Harvesting the Heart, for me, was typical Jodi Picoult. I finished the book with many questions and could not stop thinking about the characters. Actually, what was missing was a trial scene. Having read most of her recent books first, it was nice to go back and read one of her earlier works. Ms. Picoult has grown as a writer, however even then she knew how to tell a story.

jessicaslilcorner on LibraryThing

10 months ago

I thought this book was just an ok read...I liked the way the book was simple to read but wasnt a huge fan of the ending. The book was just okay for me, but I think the author does GREAT work!

brsquilt on LibraryThing

10 months ago

Do people really misunderstand each other that much? I found it overly dramatic and people who don't reason things out. Frustrating to someone who comes from a good functioning family.

XxKateexBooxX on LibraryThing

10 months ago

This book was really hard for me to get into. I love Jodi Picoult's books. I am currently trying to read everyone of them. So, this book was next on my list and for me it actually didn't become a page-turner until (i'm not going to give anything away) She returns. But I (obviously) pushed myself through it. It was not her best book, but it was still rather good, I kept waiting for that unplanned, unaware, off-guard, shocking ending, and I was disappointed when it ended with the obvious. I still love the book, and the character Paige. Unlike her husband Nicholas, who I thought to be selfish and greedy in a way.

Leeny182 on LibraryThing

10 months ago

This story is about a woman named Paige. She was raised by her father after her mother disappeared when she was five and never returned. Paige leaves home after high school graduation and meets her future husband Nicholas while working as a waitress. Nicholas sweeps her off her feet and she is surprised that a man from such a wealthy family, whos going to med school, would be interested in someone like her. This book follows her life of never feeling good enough. Her and Nicholas have a child. She doesnt feel like she is competent enough to be a mother so she runs away scared. In the end though everything works out like it always does. I loved this book.I liked Jodi Picoults earlier novels. This is the 2nd book she wrote and it is much different than her more recent stuff. The story line is similar to her first book Songs of the Humpback Whale. It differs in that it doesnt change narrators quite as much as her newer books which sometimes confuses me. Also its not so technical and doesnt involve any type of legal battle like her new work does. I honestly would like it if her next book goes back to some of the similarities of her earlier stuff. I really liked this one as it was refreshing and a change from the same routine of her newer books.

AmberAnoka on LibraryThing

10 months ago

I am reviewing Harvesting the Heart. The book was written by Jodi Picoult. I chose to read this book because it was a Jodi Picoult book and I like all of her books. I thought the characters were realistic and the storyline was creative, detailed, and easy to follow. When Eighteen year-old Paige O'Toole left her house and travelled to Massachussetts, it was seemed like something that would happen in real life. When Nicholas and Paige decided to get married after only a few weeks of dating, it seemed a little far fetched, however the arguements that followed with Nicholas' family, did seem like something that could happen any day. Paige's decision to leave in search of her mother has probably been made by other adults before. From the beginning to the end, I was enthralled with this book. Jodi Picoult did an excellent job of drawing the reader into the book. I felt the heartbreak and confusion that both Nicholas and Paige went through, as well as the anger that Nicholas later felt toward Paige. I recommend this book to any reader.

shifrack00 on LibraryThing

10 months ago

Not bad, but not as strong as some of her other books.

MsGemini on LibraryThing

10 months ago

This was the first book I read by Jodi Picoult. I loved it! I was not able to put it down. I have been a huge fan of this author ever since.

framberg on LibraryThing

10 months ago

This was Jodi Picoult's second novel, and it's missing the shocking twist at the end that marks most of her other novels (at least the ones I have read). Because of this it actually feels more real, more possible than her other novels. I appreciated the unresolved ending, the redemption she offers all of her characters but never insists on. Often when I finish a Picoult novel I feel exhausted. I enjoy the ride, but I feel manipulated and annoyed with myself for giving in to the soap opera. With "Harvesting the Heart" I merely felt as if I had finished a decent escapist novel, not as if I had been put through the wringer. I think that for my next Picoult novel - because as much as it can irritate me, I keep coming back for more - I'll try to find her first.

Cigani on LibraryThing

10 months ago

This book started off slow, but by the middle, I was hooked. I was pleased with the ending because it was not neat and tidy and unrealistic. It was raw and real...just how I like it. I am curious to see how Jodi's early work compares to her latest work (Change of Heart). Sometimes I feel she surprised is more in the beginning.

Justjenniferreading on LibraryThing

10 months ago

I loved this book. It was such a touching story. I was so captivated by the characters that I just let myself get lost in the story. It only took me a few hours to read it. The character development was great. I loved Paige and Nicholas. Even the secondary characters were great. I had great images of them all, and I could even hear the accents in their voices as I read. I think Nicholas comes off as being a bit superficial and at times a real jerk but I almost understood where he was coming from and felt that he was justified in his actions (sometimes). The story was very good. Picoult did a great job with the narration changes, which I think can sometimes make a story seem choppy. The changes didn't affect the flow of the story at all. The story spans quite a bit of time, and I found myself forgetting that so many years had passed but that didn't really take away from the story. I really liked this one. It wasn't an excellent book, but it was pretty good. It was a quick read and it was easy to attach to the characters. If you like chick lit this is a good one to pick up. This was the first of Picoult's books that I've actually read, but I've added her to my list of favorite authors.

LauraMoore on LibraryThing

10 months ago

I believe this was Jodi Picoults second book and you can definitely tell her writing has matured over the years. jodi's writing usually captivated me and takes me for a ride but this book just made me feel annoyed to be honest. I didn't like or relate to the characters and found their decisions to be ridiculous everyvstep of the way. I love Jodi Picoult but unfortantally I would say don't waste your time on this book.Paige was abandoned by her mother at a young age so when she finds herself a mother herself she soon begins to doubt her ability for being a mother herself and makes a decision to temporally follow in her mothers footsteps and abandon her family. I honestly despised Paige's character she annoyed me every step she made. The decisions she made made her weak and honestly she needed therapy not a temporary vacation from her family. Uhhh unfortantly I cannot say anything nice about her character I found no emotional connection with her and I think maybe in retrospect that she ruined this story for me.

Cailin on LibraryThing

10 months ago

This is my first book by Jodi Piccoult. I've heard so many things about her books and I decided to try one. Harvesting the Heart tells the story of Paige O'Toole. In many ways Paige spends a large part of her life trying to define herself. At the same time she's running to and from her mother who left her. I enjoyed the book, I was surprised that I felt at times Paige was annoying and then other times I understood how she felt. I found the connections to Jake and Nicholas and the surrealism of Paige's drawings in which she drew secrets about her subject a bit hard to believe but other than that it was a good first book to read by this author. I will read others.

Suzieqkc on LibraryThing

10 months ago

Predictable and disappointing.

AJBraithwaite on LibraryThing

10 months ago

Not a book I really enjoyed. There was a bit too much detail about Nicholas's career as a heart surgeon. Not that I'm squeamish, but I didn't think it advanced the story - seemed like so much filler. And I found his reaction to his wife's post-partum depression completely unconvincing for a medically-trained person. Paige's drawings were the most interesting part of the book, with their hint of magical realism, but they didn't seem to add much to the plot, either.And, just as an aside, I read the ebook and it was a really poor conversion: lots of OCR errors, and a whole chunk of repeated text at one point.